I thought about taking this post in several directions but in the end I decided to keep it simple.
The purpose of this post is to thank the leadership of ActiveRain. As a real estate agent I know the importance of a testimonial so what better testimonial could be given to the leaders here than the comments from the members.
It is also my hope that these comments will inspire new members to take blogging seriously, realizing it is not just for fun but can have a positive impact on their business.
First, I want to introduce Poppy Dinsey. She is the only ActiveRain member on another continent. I subscribed to her blog because I am just as curious as she is - I want to know what's happening in the real esate industry in Europe and because of technology our worlds can connect. So without further adieu here is Poppy.
I've been a member since July and I'm almost certain I'm the only active blogger from Europe (at least the only featured agent!). I guess my personal highlight was being contacted by Jonathan Washburn to ask my opinion on whether AR should expand to the UK - it made me feel very important! :-) I wrote a blog about whether or not AR should expand internationally here.
But overall what I've learnt has just been fascinating, we don't have anything like AR over here and I just love watching agents help out other agents. I've learnt so much from other people and I like to think I've given other people an insight into our market too. It's been interesting publishing stats from research I've done here ( e.g what consumers want to see on the map)and hearing people comment on how they think the results would be similar/different in the US.
My AR New Years resolution is to be more active and to hopefully set up some sort of international referral system. So many people in the UK would like to take advantage of the weak dollar and the slower housing market, there could be real investment opportunities. I'd like to think that if my company choose to recommend agents we will choose friends of mine from AR. Because that's what AR is, a friendly community!
Our own Dee Copeland has had many successes this year and has graciously agreed to share these with us.
I've connected with AR members on Facebook and we've discussed future referrals. The AR blog is not my main blog, but it has given me opportunities and pointed people to my TexasRealtyBlog.com.
I often blog about real estate technology and was contacted by Glenn Roberts at Inman News for a story that he was doing on mobile technology, which is one of my areas of specialized knowledge. The article ran in October and was a huge success. As a result, I was later contacted by a news station and also obtained a blog writing position with Realtor Magazine.
Stephen Wolfe is enjoying media exposure.
I have made three local media contacts, two website contacts for article writing, have been sent referrals from the network, and have had around 5 consumer leads. Probably one of the most valuable has been the connections and friendships I have made with other RE professionals from all over the US and Canada and the amount I have learned that will help propel us to the next level in 2008.
Is Alsaka getting smaller?
Alaska is a big place. It encompasses 20% of the land area of the United States with 586,412 square miles, or about 365,000,000 acres. It measures east to west, 2,400 miles and north to south, 1,420 miles. Combine that with a population estimated at 622,000. If Manhattan Island had the same population density there would be 14 people living there. Yet only about .75% of this land is privately owned. You read that correctly - less than 1%
Active Rain has helped make Alaska smaller for me. I've made friends in Anchorage and Fairbanks - the two cities that are larger than Juneau which is only about 30,000 people. I have made contacts throughout the country. I could make contacts at a convention, but it would be so cold and nondescript in comparison to this. Consumers have started to find me as well. I was featured on a radio show in Portland, Oregon and they found me through my blog. I've had new customers due to my blog, and I've found the ones that find me through the articles I write are better prepared and ask more intelligent questions. They are more prepared for the realities of Alaska.
Derrick is making connections inside and outside of AR
Much success thanks to AR. I received two referrals, one was based soley on a comment I made. I referred three clients to other AR agents. The company has experienced improved Internet exposure and positioning on Googles, Yahoo and other search engines, and received several inquiries regarding HUD foreclosures and FHA financing.
What can I say about this power couple?
Cyndee and Jack Haydon - Florida
The first 4 that come to mind..
I had a referral from Broker Bryant for a listing and it's a double ended transaction that is scheduled to close on the 28th.
We had a wonderful experience where a client in Washington called us and said they were looking to purchase a luxury vacation home - they flew in, saw property and bought a cash luxury golf home and even did a wonderful video testimonial for us at the end;
We have a navy veteran that went to buy his first home - met us online and eventually we found the perfect home for him and he also gave us a video testmonial.
We had a man whose property had been listed with a family member call us and told us he really wanted us to take over the listing saying he found us everywhere on the internet - it's currently listed.
The common thread is that they all told us they felt like they knew us already from your blog (and they had already decided to work with us).
The referral side of AR
I referred out two pieces of business and hired one employee, thanks to Active Rain.
Blogging crash course on AR
In terms of income, I did "meet" a nice agent online and received some referral business from him and closed a transaction from that several months ago. (The referring agent is Robert Whitelaw.
Project Blogger was beneficial to me in many ways, most of all as a real "crash course" in blogging but also as a wonderful venue for getting to know some really great people all over the country. It has been awesome to make so many new friends and to learn from folks who are blazing new trails with blogging. So it's been profitable on several levels, but enjoyable too.
Newbie already reaping benefit of the Rain
Being new to Active Rain, I think your suggestions would great so that newbies like me can see the benefits of Active Rain. This community has been very good so far. I have met so many people. I have met people that have help my clients finance the rehab of their commercial building. Potential seller. It has been great. I can't wait to see what happens after the holidays and the first of the year.
Using AR to benefit clients
I have not sold a thing from Active Rain, however, it has increased my rankings. We are finally on page 1 of Google for "real estate websites" after trying for 3 years.
We were already headed in that direction, but Active Rain was the straw that broke the
camel's back and it sped up the process considerably.
We are no where near as large as some of the competitors on page one on Googlefor "real estate websites," however, our small company has leveraged itself with theheavy-hitters like Advanced Access and Realtor.com by using search engine optimizationand Active Rain Blogging.
I create Active Rain accounts for all my clients and use it as a major part of their Monthly SEO each month. It really works!
The power of teamwork in the Rain
We sold a home using a combination of staging help from Val Allocco, and Broker Bryants value range pricing. Between the two, it made a challenging listing one of the few that sold in that area over the course of 2007, and has provided us with special ammunition for 2008
More awareness of national real estate issues
My greatest success with AR has been through networking on a much larger scale than on the local and state levels. I have learned so much from others around the nation. My marketing abilities, knowledge of national issues, and mortgage knowledge issues have all increased because of AR. There's no way I can say thank you to you and so many others that have had a positive impact on my business and development. Thank you and I hope this helps
Success from SEO discovery on AR
My husband and I opened our Brokerage in the summer of 2006. We hit the floor running and havn't stopped yet! I spent the first few months before opening our doors, optimizing our site on the Search Engines with good success. When we began we knew nothing about SEO and basically started from scratch. It worked for us! Our discovery of Active Rain was an incredible discovery! It turned out to be the catalyst that skyrocketed ourselves to the top! People are calling us all the time beginning with, I read your blog on Google and was thinking about purchasing in your area. Can you help me? YOU BET WE CAN! We have received listings and buyers.
Networking led to exclusive contract
During this year not only have I learned a great deal about blogging, I was able to network with other agents and it was a great learning experience.
During my networking on Active Rain, I was given some advice about possible buyer leads from a Military Housing Fund. Thanks to Active Rain's resources- I have signed an exclusive contract with the Military Housing Fund to be their exclusive agent for the state of MA. This will launch January 2008!! All qualified buyers who come from their program, I will be the exclusive agent! Can't get any better than this! Maureen Staccato Keller Williams Realty
The social aspect of AR
I was sitting in Alex's Restaurant recently with Jeff Dolfinger, as a result of our contact on AR. Jeff and I had spoken on the phone in the past for showings, but this was the first time we had met in person. In walks Kevin Whitty, who takes a look at Jeff and says "You're Jeff Dolfinger from ActiveRain!"
Blogging does work
I have made many contacts because of the blogs I write on AR. For instance, last summer I was contacted by a lawyer who found me through my blog. I later found her sister a home and was so moved when she sent my daughter a present for her wedding this summer. I have also become somewhat of a local resource as a result of my blogs on local events and sites. My blogs have led to other business connections as well. For example, I was recently made a board member of a local historical society, and the initial contact was because of something I wrote in a blog! Yes, blogging does work.
Reaching Internet savvy buyers and sellers through AR
- I was contacted by a Donald Trump Salesperson in Miami who was conducting a Seminar in Portland. They asked if I could give some information to their class about Fixers and Flips. I did as well as I met them all and gave all twelve a 3hr tour through Portland, showing them 4 separate properties in different state of rehab. All of the individuals were local area Investors eager to learn more. Of course they all took my information. It is a numbers game you know.
- I received an email from a Buyer in Rhode Island who had come across several of my Blogs while doing a home search in Portland. I sent a referral to Tammy Peletier ( another Ar Member ) who Listed and sold their home which I received a referral fee on. They subsequently came to Portland and I Sold them a home.
- While surfing the internet Jesse and Peter came across my web site which I had linked through a blog I wrote. They called me one afternoon out of the blue saying they had come across a home and felt like they knew me ( Obviously from the blogs ) I sold them the home and some three months later they referred me to another couple Ken and Michelle who I sold a home also.
- In the summer I got a call from an investor who had been searching the web and noticed I had a home ( I had just ran the Blog about 432 NE Sumner in the Alberta Arts District ) he was intrigued and drove out to see my listing. He was surprised at the price. He owned two properties on the next street over in similar condition. It was even more surprising to him when I told him that the house he looked at was Sale Pending at above full price. Shocked he invited me out to list both of his homes. I not only listed them but Sold Them Both Myself Kaching Kaching.
- Because of the blogs that I have written this year I have had over 150 buyer's looking to purchase a home in Portland sign up on my web site ( for Buyers ) http://www.househuntportland.com/ an email notification site which can send you matches by email within 20 minutes of them hitting the market. The information is a full listing with photos and addresses. ActiveRain and my blogs are the primary source of my marketing of this website. I also get a lot of sign ups after I have written an article especially if it is a Localism article of interest to the community and if I have used the proper key words etc.
Connected through Blogging
Jesse is a new blogger on AR. He was suprised to learn that one of his relatives had found him on the Internet through one of his blog entries. It just confirmed to him that blogging can work as a business tool.
Some agents have written their stories and business successes in blogs. Here are a few you will enjoy reading.
You might want to grab the tissue box
Monika McGillicuddy
Chris's customer adventureChris Griffith
Teresa's Onstar episodeTeresa Chambers
Ann's 15 minutes of fameAnn Cummings
Joan's first AR closingJoan Whitebook
Linda Davies
I would like this testimonial to continue so go ahead and post your AR success story.
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